News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-11-03
A HILL THAT SHAKES.
ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE
HOOSIER STATE.
An Almost Constant Vibration of
the Earth, With Strange Flashes
of Light at Night.

the Earth, With Strange Flashes
of Light at Night.
During the recent natural gas craze
which swept over Indiana and which has,
to some extent, abated in this immediate
section, says Cambridge City (lnd.)
letter to the Cincinnati ERqUirer, fire.
quent mention was made of the feasibil-
ity and probable results of boring for the
infammable fluid on "Shaky Hill.
There are many who are positive in their
belief that gas can be found there, and
in abundance, tCO. There are Others
who claim that it would be the last place
in the world for gas or oil, but it is GER
tain that the locality or 'hilp' is at
tended with very mysterious penemena.
The hill in question is part of low
ridge of land running east and west some
two miles south, the hill, comprising
about twelve acres, being southwest, two
and one-half miles, in the northeastern
corner of Fayette county. The land was
entered in 1916 by Thomas Reagan,
whose son, Wiley Reagan, settled upon
the hill in 1922. Your correspondent
met to-day two gentlemen who probably
know more about the circumstances sur
rounding the peculiar actions of the hill,
or rather plateau, than any others. One,
the son-in- law of Wiley Reagan, said:
"The land on which it is Situated was
bought about sixty-five years ago by
Wiley Reagan, my father in-law, an early
settler, who improved the farm and built
a log house on the highest part of it, the
part lying east of a small creek. Soon
after the family occupied the house they
discovered that at intervals there was Il
pronounced disturbance of the hill, as if
moved or shaken by an earthquake-this,
too, while other sections of the country
were undisturbed. This continued for
several years, and finally increased and
became so marked that the Reagan family
became alarmed and built a new cabin on
the west part of the farm-across the
creek This was done because they
feared and expected some dire calamity
would befall them should they remain on
the hill, not that they were superstitious,
as has been said, but because
they were afraid the land would
sink or break up-at least, they
thought it safer on more stable ground.
The cabin was removed and there has
been no dwelling very near the hill since.
The character of the disturbance resem-
bles the sensation produced by an earth
quake, perceptibly shaking the house,
various articles of furniture, and especial
ly the cupboard and its contents of
dishes, etc. shaking the ciothes-line,
sometimes causing it to fall, with its
load of washing. The disturbances, as
far as known, have not occurred as fre-
quently as formerly; but, as the locality
has for a long time been part of large
open field, the chances for observation
have been limited, and it may have
shaken many times without having been
felt by persons.
''On number of occasions the house
nearest the hill, to the northeast, was
affected in similar manner, and at one
time the cellar wall of this house was
badly cracked and rendered useless. The
peculiarly of this hill-that it has re-
peatedly shaken, and the phenomena
stated actually took PLACES authenti-
Gated by many of Reagal's nearest
neighbors.
"There is nothing peculiar or different
from the ordinary in this or ad Joining
lands to point to anything strange, eX-
cepting a large sulphur spring at the
foot of the hill in quagmire that seems
to have no bottom"
In his last statement the gentleman
suggests theory to account for the
strange behavior of the hill. 1t is
probable that the elevation has for its
foundation thin stratum of Niagara
rock resting on this bog. A slight dis
turbance would cause this rock to
vibrate, and this motion transferred TO
the hill would produce a decided shock.
The gentleman further stated: 'In
more recent years persons living immedi-
ately west of the hill have noticed an
odor of coal-tar in damp weather when
the wind blew from the east. Also, that
in digging cellars and wells large fssures
were found partly filled with substances
closely resembling cinders, ashes, etc"
AT one time laborer was hired TO dig
a well near the house, but after going
down some twenty feet the tools caused
such hollow sounds the man came up in
stanter, declaring he wouldn't finish it, as
he was afraid the "bottom would fall
out"
Mr.. Byram Baldwin, who owns the
farm, states that to his certain knowledge
the hill has been ''shaky" for over fifty
seven years. He has experienced the
peculiar sensations, and only about two
months ago hi wife and hired hand felt
A violent jar about o'clock IN the morn
ing. Their dwelling is about three
eighths of mile from the hill OF a
large apple orchard set out by
Mr.. Reagan only one trsc re-
mains, the rest having died or were
cut down. One day in the fail of 1888
nearly all the ripe apples were shaken
rom the tree by the quaking of the
aarth. Mr.. Baldwin says that while
driving near the hill Saturday night with
his wife they were startled by three sud
len flashes of light, produced by balls of
ire, which shot up into the air one hun
lred feet, much like a sky-rocket. 1t is
aid on good authority that this is of
requent occurrence, and it is no doubt
caused by the combustion of light car
)urettcd hydrogen, commonly called
marsh gas, or "iack lantern.
Another peculiar feature of this place
is that the needle of the compass will rot
,oint to the magctic pole, but inclines
o the east. The temperature too, is TN
ike that of the surrounding region.
The same thermometer will show "A change
If several degrees in going from different
,arts of the farm to the hill-not always
ooler, not always warmer, but never the
ame
Altogether, this is very singular and
peculiar natural phenomenon and an in
estigation might prove interesting.